Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-16
PARLIAM ENTARY D0INGS.
THE DEBATE RESUMED IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Harcourt Scores the Government for the
Mitchellstown Riot-Gladstone Makes
an Eloquent speech for Ireland
Balfour Tries TO Reply.

mons this afternoon, called attention to
the general policy of the government in
Ireland, especially to the Invasion of the
rights of the people respecting the holding
of public meetings. lie demanded the
House be Informed of the nature of the i'll
structions given to the police in Ireland
regarding the line of Ction they are TO
pursue with respect to the public meet
ings. also whether the report is true that
Gen. Sir Redvers Bul Ter has resigned and
II 50 what are his reasons He claimed
the Irish possessed in common with the
hng!ish the right to meet and denounce
the action of the legislative branch of the
government.
Some tory journals had suggested that
machine guns ought to be used against
the Irish. [Cries of what paper p
The st. James Gazette" answered the
speaker, adding "the typical tory org IN. "
The most detestable and scandalous
language was used by the Times, Sir
William went on, for the express pur-
pose of driving the Irish to revolt-lan-
guage such as never before degraded the
press of free country. II the advice of
the unionist press had been followed
what between the machine guns and the
evictions OF the tory landlords soon very
L.
let the government try the experiment
OF their new doctrines upon the people of
England The country would make short
W,ik of them. The heart of England was
with the Irish in indicating the right of
pubic meeting and would support them
until justice was done. The meetings
must continue aud be held in all parts of
Ireland. The governments dread of pub
&c meetings would seal their Irish policy.
Balfour said the instructions to the pc
lice were the same they had received when
Sir William was a member of the Glad
stone government. Butler always acted
in perfect harmony with the present gov
eminent. His appointment as under sec.
rotary was only temporary, and he re-
signed now simply because he desired not
to delay his return to the war office Ii
anyone supposed Buffers retirement was
due in the slightest degree to difference
OF opinion with him, the superstition was
absolutely false
Referring to Sir Williams contention
that suppression of public meetings was
illegal, Balfour said he did not know at
what period Sir William lost his know-
edge of law, but it was a matter of history
that under the common law Of Ireland Sir
William himself acted with Gladstone aud
Forster in proclaiming 1870 meetings.
An important element to consider was
the condition of the district of Ennis. a
notorious centre of agraran crime. 1t
was dD,ulu W UtSCIlDt eU"l meetings
as for free discussion. 1t has been clearly
ascertained that the action of the police
at MitchellstOwn was in the face of eX-
IRENE provocatiop. The police were as
saulted with stones and blackt horn sticks
before they. drew their batons. Not TIL
they were tn own into disorder by a
charge of horsemen which knocked
down and wounded number aud
forced the rest to fly for Their lives. had
the police fired. The firing was not the ran
dom firing of meu in a panic, aus the de
liberate act under the order Of their com
manding officer The conduct of
the police was amply justified. Did
the opposition mean TO further inhame
the passions of the Irish, driving them
into resistance 10 the law OF liberty found
ed upon the order that was once dear 10
both parties in the state? The govern
ment did not WAIVER in its policy They
would persevere in course that must end
in the Cancellation of Ireland
Labouchere said he saw all that occurred
at NIitchalstnyn .t,ir,,art o'.,l),, ,,.a'
,.i, =" -en' ol'er9 were
given 'ne peoPie ny tue readers To avoid
a disturbance. When they assembled in
the market place Dillon advised the pro-
ceedlngs he as short as possible with
view OF avoiding disorder. There was no
opJectloh to the presence Of the govern
menu reporter, hut the police could not
force nm through densely packed crowd
ana were driven back upon the reserve.
~ az du3 hioiHell were there more than
oO people llghting the police. There were
women and children in the crowd, men
who mad perfect right to resist an at
tack. hen the police fired there was no
DANGER OF any being attacked either in
SIDE or outside the barracks. The police
DehaVed IKE wild beasts, battering the
people without mercy. The chief showed
democratic Intention TO break up the
meeting. Labouchere held the chief con
stable ana the resident magistrate re-
sponslble and accused them of deliberate
murder.
Gladstone rising was loudly cheered
lie SAID the nature of the debate should
DE manly directed to the Mitchellstowu
outrage. Sir William Vernon Harcout
had performed a public service in drawing
attention to the Ennis meeting. Bal
four declared the government would
persevere in the endeavor to tran
quilize Ireland by firm adminis-
lration of law by removal, not of
grievance4-there were none. Balfour in
aTt,f,